Picking a Lot for an Energy-Efficient Home

Building a home that boasts energy-efficient qualities is easier than transforming an already-built home to conserve energy. Building from the ground up ensures that only the best and most efficient features and appliances can be added to the home for maximum energy conservation.

Perhaps the biggest decision when building an energy-efficient home is where you will put the home. Picking a lot for your home involves a few factors that you should be aware of.

How energy-efficient is the lot?

When you scope out building sites, you should measure the potential of the particular lot in terms of energy efficiency. Here are some things to look for and consider:

Solar exposures- Since this is a major key to building energy-efficient homes, you need to figure out what the latitude of the lot is and the sun’s path over a year’s time at that attitude.

Water- Of course homeowners need water to live, so the water situation should be analyzed. How is the water supply? Are there any water problems in the area? Will the home need a well? There are many questions to answer as far as water is concerned.

Prevailing winds- For energy-efficient homes, prevailing winds are very important in ventilation and cooling the home. You want a lot with a great natural breeze in the summer.

Future plans for area- Are you building a home on a lot near train construction or a highway that’s planning on expanding? Find out before you begin construction.

Will local building codes support the home construction?

Before you build an energy-efficient home, you need to find out whether or the area has local building codes that support your plans. To find out, you can ask the local homeowners association or the local building department. You can also get information about the costs for fees and permits as well. It’s a good idea to talk with local contractors and builders to get information and advice on building an energy-efficient home in the area.

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Why Lot Size Matters in Real Estate

Buying a home before studying the lot where it is located is never advisable. Many home buyers seem to believe that the lot is not important if the house is good enough to grab attention. Agreed, the lot is merely a piece of land, but in real estate it matters. Here is why:

 The Value Factor       

The value of your lot is often determined by the size of the lots adjacent to it.  So if you are going to buy a lot which is much smaller or bigger than other lots in the neighborhood, you need to realize that its size will have a major impact on its original and resale value. So you might think that bigger lots are more valuable than smaller lots, but this is not always the case. Of course, it is safe to assume that a lot which is larger than adjacent lots will be more valuable.

However, if that extra acreage consists of unusable terrain, the lot could be worth much less than neighboring lots. Interestingly, a smaller lot could be worth more for several reasons including its location, landscaping, views and the size and value of the house built on it. When it comes to corner lots and lots located on a dead end, there are several other factors that could affect the value.

The Size

The relation between lot size and property value is not exactly clear. In fact it tends to be governed by area and neighborhood, rather than anything else. In a city, a lot that measures a quarter acre should be considered as a large lot. When it comes to the suburbs, an acre tends to be the norm for relatively expensive homes.

Large pieces of land that cannot be divided into sub plots rarely increase the price of the house. Consider this example. A lot comes with additional seven or eight acres of land. But if this extra piece of land is undevelopable because it is a rocky land or swamp, it will not enhance the price of the property. It might even turn off some potential buyers because few people are interested in paying property tax on a piece of land that they can't use in any way. In fact, some owners of such unusable lands have dedicated it to the town where they live. By giving away land, they not only reap tax benefits, but also reduce their property taxes.

 

The Position

If you run a business, you will definitely want to purchase a corner lot. These are considered the most desirable locations for shops and businesses. However, when it comes to residential property, corner lots are not exactly popular. Since these lots are more exposed, they might require high fencing or trees for privacy. Families with very young children may prefer Cul-de-sacs or dead ends.

Effect on Lifestyle

Now that you have factored in the price of lots in the community, you need to consider the impact the lot will have on your lifestyle. You need to ask yourself a few questions:

 

Do you think your family will need lots of outdoor space? If your family prefers to spend a lot of time outdoors, you will probably need a larger lot. You also need to remember that the size of the lot may affect the type of landscaping you can have. Your chosen lot should ideally be close to community amenities. You will probably also want to know how far the lot is from the community entrance.

You can view the lot map before buying property in a community. However, if it is possible, drive to the neighborhood and see the lots and homes in person. It will help you make a more informed purchasing decision.

How to Save Money by Building a Low Cost Home

Even if you are not an expert, there are still ways to save money on home construction. Here are some cool tips to keep your home building budget within reason.

Split the costs

If you feel that you can’t afford the property because it is too large, you should consider buying it with a family member or friend. After purchasing the lot, you can split it into smaller lots. This saves money. Better still, you will be able to get a great lot for an attractive price.

Choose a problem lot

Some lots are less desirable than other lots. For example, a narrow lot or a hillside lot will have fewer takers. As a result, these lots are usually sold for much lower prices. If you can find such a 'problem lot' for a great price, don't hesitate to buy it. With the right floor plan and a great contractor, you can build the house of your dreams on any lot.

Waterfront lots

If you are looking for a waterfront property, you should opt for a lot facing a bay or a canal. These lots are much less expensive than lakefront or oceanfront properties. You will still have easy access to a water body.

Use low cost materials

Choose building materials that require less maintenance. Examples are: metal roofing and vinyl siding. Of course, these materials are more expensive, but they will easily recover their costs because you will not have to spend money on repairs or replacement.

Visit demolition sites

You will be able to collect used bricks, wooden doors and old barn wood from demolition sites. These materials are perfectly usable and usually don't cost anything. Of course, you will have to haul them away on your own.

Don't splurge

Avoid the temptation to splurge except for those truly important items. You can't, for example, skimp on doors or windows because they are important for the safety of your home.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better

Don't build a house that is bigger and better than any other house in the neighborhood. These monster homes are unlikely to command a good price when you decide to sell them.

Monitor all the materials used for construction

Don't let the contractor use low quality materials unless they are ready to make a cost adjustment.

Hire a certified contractor

An experienced will have established good relationships with subcontractors and suppliers.

Avoid site preparation

Site preparation can be expensive. Avoid lots that require extensive preparation work. Blasting rocks and clearing trees can be expensive.

Don’t alter blueprints

Don't change materials or blueprints during the building process. These changes can cost a lot of money.

Add width not depth

If the depth of the home is more than 32 feet, you will have to use specially designed roof trusses. This can be expensive. If you want a large house, add width or extra stories.

Consider vinyl flooring

If you feel that you can't afford to have hardwood flooring or ceramic tile at the moment, use vinyl flooring. You can add tile or wood directly on top of vinyl at any time.

Use a stock plan

Getting a plan custom-drawn can be expensive. Instead, choose one of the readily available stock plans. You will be able to customize it to get what you want.

Don’t build huge garages

If you have just two cars, you probably don't have to build a garage that can accommodate three or more vehicles. If you are looking for storage space, you should consider putting up a shed in the garden.